Shakespeare Royal Oak began with a commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, access, and anti-racism. We always hoped a fully diverse community would join us along the way and will now commit to proactively engaging it.
Shakespeare Royal Oak commits to actively involve people of all races, backgrounds, and cultures in our organization, whether staff, artists, or audience. We will expand our relationships with the BIPOC community by furthering outreach beyond Royal Oak. We will listen to the BIPOC community in an ongoing effort to build our future together.
Shakespeare Royal Oak will provide opportunities for diverse individuals and organizations to join us. We will continue to create a safe space where all artists can bring their unique perspectives and experiences to our work.
Education
Get ready for a great summer with KidsAct!
This six-day learning experience for students entering grades 1-8 offers instruction in Shakespeare, safe sword-fighting and stage combat, and comedic improvisation from qualified, professional teaching artists. Students then perform in an hour-long showcase to be presented for friends and family in Starr Jaycee Park. (KidsAct! 2021 programming is subject to CDC health and safety requirements as of the date of the program.)
KidsAct! will run from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. August 2 – 6, with a showcase performance at 11:00 a.m. August 7, 2021.
In 2021, SRO Teen Ensemble will audition and then stage a fast-paced adaptation of William Shakespeare’s original romantic comedy Much Ado About Nothing. Love is in the air! This lively abridged script, with witty repartee and dynamic characters created especially for Shakespeare Royal Oak by our alumni director Barton Bund, is a perfect introduction to the world of the Bard. Brisk, clear and to-the-point, the SRO Teen Ensemble version of Much Ado is designed for maximum enjoyment.
All SRO Teen Ensemble students will be contacted after they are registered with a Zoom Invitation to attend both a Workshop, taking place Saturday, June 12 from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. via Zoom, and the Auditions, taking place Monday, June 28 from 7 – 9:30pm via Zoom (separate date/time can be arranged if conflict with audition time). All students registered for the program are cast in a role. If a student expresses interest in technical areas–such as costumes, stage management, sound, or lighting, the curriculum will expand to incorporate those areas.
SRO Teen Ensemble will run two weeks in Starr Jaycee Park, beginning July 19. Sessions held on July 19 – 23 will run from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. and on July 26 – 30 from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. The experience will conclude with three performances of Much Ado About Nothing, taking place on July 31 at 7:00 p.m., August 1 at 5:00 p.m., and August 2 at 7:00 p.m.
More about SRO Teen Ensemble >
REGISTER NOW FOR SRO TEEN ENSEMBLE
2021 Shakespeare Royal Oak
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Our main stage show will be A “Midsummer Night’s Dream,” directed by the talented Lynch Travis. The 2021 production will mark Mr. Travis’ directorial debut with SRO. Lynch is well known to audiences at Purple Rose, Meadow Brook, Williamston, JET, Detroit Public, Performance Network, and Bonstelle. And those are just some of the professional houses where he’s worked as an actor, director, or both.
Cast:
Theseus/Oberon: Craig Ester
Hippolyta/Titania: Margaret Alger
Puck: Linda Rabin Hammell
Bottom: Keith Kalinowski
Lysander: Steven Jean
Demetrius: Justin Montgomery
Helena/Snug: CJ Williams
Hermia/Flute: Jaclynn Cherry
Quince/Egeus/Fairy: Antonio Vettraino
Philostrate/Starvelin/Fairy: Maurizio Dominguez
A Midsummer Night’s Dream will run five shows, Thursday, August 5 – Sunday, August 8, 2021.
Shakespeare Royal Oak is committed to equity and diversity in our casting and hiring. We invite and encourage artists of all races, backgrounds, and cultures to audition and work with us. We support non-traditional casting and remain committed to consideration of all roles for all artists.
Happy 20th Anniversary Shakespeare Royal Oak!
Shakespeare Royal Oak turned 20 last summer. Though we could not gather In The Park to celebrate together, our SRO Team collaborated with performers, crew, production staff, and audience members to create special premier messaging and performances to entertain you. Together, we made a Toast to our 20th Anniversary.
Tune in to our YouTube channel. Enjoy the performances and messages where we shared stories, snapshots, memories and moments from seasons past.
Thank you for helping us reach this milestone year. We look forward to returning to Starr Jaycee Park and sharing the beautiful words of the Bard with you on many more summer nights. Until that time …
Cheers,
Ed and the SRO Team
Please support SRO as we make plans to return to the park in 2021.
Don’t forget: visit our special Toast 20 Celebration YouTube channel.
See videos, photos and more from our past seasons >
Support
There are many ways to support Water Works Theatre Company. You can advertise in our program, volunteer your time or expertise, become a sponsor or make a financial donation. It all ensures that this community jewel continues. Find out how you can help >
About
Learn more about Water Works Theatre Company: our beginnings, our passion and our future. Tell me the story >
